Ontario Raising Speed Limits on Provincial Highways, Including Highway 406 in Niagara

Beamsville – The Ontario government is raising the speed limit permanently from 100 km/h to 110 km/h on ten additional sections of provincial highways in Northern and Southern Ontario, including Highway 406 in Niagara from Thorold to Welland.

“Traffic flow on provincial highways is a major concern for commuters in Niagara,” said Sam Oosterhoff, MPP for Niagara West.

“Our government is continuing to look at all safe options across the province to get Ontario moving.”

The change builds on the safe and successful increase to six sections of provincial highways in 2022 and aligns with posted speed limits in other jurisdictions across Canada.

“Most of Ontario’s highways were originally designed to safely accommodate speed limits of 110 km/h and the data from our changes in 2022 shows they do just that,” said Hon. Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation.

“These evidence-based increases are a common-sense change to make life more convenient for Ontario drivers while bringing our highway speed limits in line with other Canadian provinces.”

Starting Friday, July 12, 2024, the speed limit will be permanently raised to 110 km/h on most of the following provincial highway sections, with the remainder coming into force before the end of the year:

• Highway 401, Tilbury, extending the existing 110 km/h zone further East by seven kilometres

• Highway 401 from Highway 35/115 to Cobourg (approximately thirty-five kilometres)

• Highway 401 from Colborne to Belleville (approximately forty-four kilometres)

• Highway 401 from Belleville to Kingston (approximately sixty-six kilometres)

• Highway 401 from Highway 16 to Quebec boundary (approximately 107 kilometres)

• Highway 403 from Woodstock to Brantford (approximately twenty-six kilometres)

• Highway 403 from Brantford to Hamilton (approximately fourteen kilometres)

• Hwy 406 from Thorold to Welland (approximately thirteen kilometres)

• Highway 416 from Highway 401 to Ottawa (approximately seventy kilometres)

• Highway 69 from Sudbury to French River (approximately sixty kilometres)

All highway sections were selected based on their ability to safely accommodate higher speed limits. Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan have a maximum speed limit of 110 km/h, while in British Columbia, the maximum speed limit is 120 km/h.